UNIVERSITY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES,

SUNYANI, GHANA
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING
ENGINEERING

COURSE: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1

(MECH 253)
TITLE: SIMPLE PENDULUM

GROUP 28
NAMES INDEX NUMBERS
OCRAN OWUSU ABOAGYE EMMANUEL UEB1202320
FRIMPONG PENIEL UEB1210220
OFORI ESTELLA ANNING UEB1211820
ABDUL RAZAK SOALE UEB1200420

DATE: 22ndAPRIL,2022
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: BRIGHT OSAFO ADUNU
 Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................2
OBJECTIVE................................................................................2
THEORY.....................................................................................2
APPARATUS..............................................................................4
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP........................................................4
PROCEDURE..............................................................................5
EXPERIMENTAL DATA...........................................................5
RESULTS....................................................................................6
DISCUSSION..............................................................................8
CONCLUSION............................................................................8
SAFETY PRECAUTION............................................................8

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 INTRODUCTION
A simple pendulum is an idealized physical model, which consist of a connector, a
thread and relatively small mass. The connector is regarded as a frictionless
connection with the environment. The thread here is regarded as a thin line with
negligible mass. And a small object such as ball, whose radius is much smaller
than the length of the pendulum itself, has a mass value mostly represents the mass
value of the whole pendulum system.

OBJECTIVE
To find the relationship between the length of a simple pendulum and the period of
oscillation.

THEORY
A simple pendulum may be described ideally as a point mass suspended by a
massless string from some point about which it is allowed to swing back and forth
in a place. A simple pendulum can be approximated by a small metal sphere which
has a small radius and a large mass when compared relatively to the length and
mass of the light string from which it is suspended. If a pendulum is set in motion
so that is swings back and forth, its motion will be periodic.

The time that it takes to make one complete oscillation is defined as the period T.
Another useful quantity used to describe periodic motion is the frequency of
oscillation. The frequency f of the oscillations is the number of oscillations that

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occur per unit time and is the inverse of the period, f = 1/T. Similarly, the period is
the inverse of the frequency, T = l/f. The maximum distance that the mass is
displaced from its equilibrium position is defined as the amplitude of the
oscillation.
𝐹⃗ = 𝑘𝑥⃗
m
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ k

The restoring force F

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
where g= acceleration due to gravity and 𝜃=the angle the pendulum is displaced.
For small amplitude, where 𝜃 is small, sin𝜃 can be approximated as 𝜃. Then the
restoring force will be given as
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔θ
In radians, the angle 𝜃 is given as the arc length divided by the length of the
pendulum.
Thus,
x
𝜃= l

x
The restoring force 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 l

F
𝑘= X

mgx
𝑘 = xl

mg
𝑘= l

m
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ mg
l
1
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ g
l

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 l
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅√ g

APPARATUS
1. Retort stand
2. Pendulum bob
3. Thread
4. Metre rule
5. Stopwatch

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

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 PROCEDURE
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the figure above.
2. A small spherical brass ball (pendulum) was attached to the thread. The thread
was held by a clamp of the retort stand.
3. The length of the thread, l was measured by a metre rule, starting with 10.0 cm
from the point of suspension to the middle of the ball.
4. The ball of the pendulum was displaced, about 5º from its equilibrium position
and let it swing back and forth. 5. The time for 20 complete oscillations, t was
taken using the stopwatch. 6. The period of oscillation T was calculated using, T =
t / 20.
5. The time for 20 complete oscillations, t was taken using the stopwatch.
6. The period of oscillation T was calculated using, T = t / 20.
7. The experiment was repeated using different lengths of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,
80, 90, 100 cm.

EXPERIMENTAL DATA
TABLE OF VALUES
Length (m) Time taken for 20 oscillation t(s)
t1 t2
0.1 12.63 12.69
0.2 17.81 17.78
0.3 21.75 21.90
0.4 25.06 25.25
0.5 28.03 28.19
0.6 30.90 30.72
0.7 33.75 33.59
0.8 35.75 35.78

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 0.9 37.78 37.78
1.0 39.91 39.88

RESULTS
TABLE OF VALUES
Length Time taken for 20 oscillations t (s) Period of T2 (s2)
(m) t1 t2 taverage oscillation
T (s)
0.1 12.63 12.69 12.660 0.633 0.401
0.2 17.81 17.78 17.795 0.890 0.792
0.3 21.75 21.90 21.825 1.091 1.190
0.4 25.06 25.25 25.155 1.258 1.582
0.5 28.03 28.19 28.110 1.406 1.977
0.6 30.90 30.72 30.810 1.540 2.372
0.7 33.75 33.59 33.670 1.684 2.836
0.8 35.75 35.78 35.765 1.788 3.197
0.9 37.78 37.78 37.780 1.889 3.568
1.0 39.91 39.88 39.895 1.995 3.980

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 Period versus length
4.5

3.5

2.5
Period(s2)

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Length(m)

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 DISCUSSION
In the experiment carried out, length ‘L’ of the pendulum was the independent
variable whereas time period ‘T’ of the pendulum was the dependable variable.
After plotting the graph, a straight line passed through most of the points and not
all due to some experimental errors.
The straight line clearly shows the relationship between the length ‘L’ and squared
of the time period ‘T2’ as directly proportional.

CONCLUSION
The purpose of this experiment was to find the relationship between the length of a
simple pendulum and the period of oscillation, and the experiment performed
fulfilled this purpose by finding out the length ‘L’ increased linearly with time
period ‘T2’.

SAFETY PRECAUTION
1. The amplitude should be small.
2. The oscillation should take place in the same plane.
3. The bob should not spin as it oscillates.

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